The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-12

"
replied the other, with a good deal of
enthusiasm, and a noble woman be-
sides. They have one baby boy, a
little yesrling chap"
"'Does he drink p was the next in.
quiry; i never saw painter who
wouldn't
II shuddered, and listened for the
reply. The bare idea of that human
being at that giddy hight, with the
uncertain nerves of topper, YVES hor-
rible.
"The second citizsn replied: He
is not drinking now, you may be sure,
nor he hasn't taken liquor since he
first thought of this job, but when it
is all over he'll go on regular ripper.
He'll paint the town. He always
does after a risky job. Seems as if
he looked back and realized his dan
ger after it is over and takes to drink
to drown the sense of it,
"'Then's when,' he continued, as
he observed me listening, 'then's
when his wife will come out true blue.
she stands by him like an angel,
nurtes him through all his scrspes,
and brings him around all right. No
one dsres to pity her either, she's got
such way WITH her.
81 passed on, but noticed the next
day that the steeple was finished, ard
wonder d If the spree would fol-
low.
"a few days later l crossed this
bridge TO that chalybeste spring you
see there and found painting going on
here also. looked up to the top OF
that tower before us and eaw Just this
side OF it, standing On single plank,
our painter of the diamonds.
"The giddy hight, the swaying OF
the bridge as heavy loads passed over
it, and the deep running river beneath
seemed to disturb him as little as the
Church street crowds.
"He lad evidently omitted 10 paint
the town after the last risky job
ga few days later noticed q rara-
graph in the Daily American announc-
ing that the painting Of the bridge
had been successfully accomplished.
Bob bad stopped in his walk and
stood leaning back against the outer
railing and facing the cable. / waited
his pleasure.
"Ten or twelve days later" he went
on, ~ was crossing the end of Market
street to Orone's corner when l saw a
rushing of people for the bridge. 1t
was early business hours and quanti-
ties OF people on the street. The ex-
element seemed general, and Joined
the crowd and haStened around that
western pier, when sight met my
eyes that 1 wish could forget. That
fame painter, with wild eyes, bare
headed, barefooted, in painters |
loose blouse and dark pants, yelling
like a maniac, which he really was,
and holding over his head beautiful |
child about year and half old, was
rapidly making his way up this very
cable Of wire. Do You see those two |
marks in white paint few feet from
where the cable crosses the top of the |
pier2"
nodded assent.
"Well, that is the very pace. That |
mailman went up to that spot as easy |
as a squirrel would climb tree, yell
ing ss he went that he was going to
chow Agnes that he could make a
painter OF that boy, that he was going
to begin now to make him steady
beaded. He actually placed the little
fellow astride that great roll of wire
Just were you see those marks, and |
balancing the little fat legs on each
side and laid the child along the wire
on its stomach, put the chubby arms
around the cold iron log. This done,
with veil like some wild animal, he
clambered down one of those slim
iron rods, and screaming with laughter
as il at some huge joke successfully
perpetrated, escaped down those steps
TO the bank below and was out OF
sight behind that bucket factory al
most instantly. No one opposed him
or cared TO pursue, for all eyes and
interest now conferred in the babe,
hanging between earth and
heaven. Il seemed stunned or stupe-
fed at its situation. it neither cried
nor smiled, but chung with that
brave sobriety OF babyhood, and,
being. we'll balanced, seemed unable to
let 90. No one dared to attract its at
tention by encouraging words or a
warning caution. By sort Of COM
mon consent dead silence fell on the
crowd, which by this time bad become
immense. No ladder in the city could
,each half the distance, no man could
,ver either walk or climb up that
'mooth round metal log. No man but
he one who had just done It could